Eschar Prevention Device

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for preventing the formation of eschars in a support area, i.e the area on which a person in a seated or lying position rests. The invention comprises: pressure sensors which are disposed under the aforementioned support area; means for comparing each measurement supplied by any of the sensors to at least one threshold value; storage means for storing all of the measurements supplied by all of the sensors during a first period of time from the point at which the threshold value is exceeded by at least one measurement; means for processing the stored measurements, which, once the first time period has elapsed are used to determine movement instructions for the person in the seated or lying position such as to prevent the formation of eschars; a lingual electro-stimulation device for transmitting the aforementioned movement instructions to the person; and actuators which can be actuated by the person in the seated or lying position and which regulate the movement of said person

1 . A device for preventing the forming of eschars at the level of a seated or lying person's bearing area, comprising:
 pressure sensors under the bearing area;   means for comparing each measurement provided by any one of the sensors with at least one threshold value;   memorization means capable of memorizing all the measurements provided by all the sensors for a first time period from an exceeding of the threshold value by at least one measurement;   means for processing the memorized measurements capable of determining, once the first time period has elapsed, displacement instructions for the seated or lying person to avoid the forming of eschars;   a tongue display unit capable of transmitting the displacement instruction to the seated or lying person; and   actuators operable by the seated or lying person and capable of causing his or her displacement.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 means for determining after an exceeding of the threshold value for a given sensor whether the measurements subsequently provided by said given sensor became lower than the threshold value;   means for measuring the time for which the measurements provided by said sensor remain lower than the threshold value; and   means for interrupting for the given sensor any processing of memorization of the measurements and/or of transmission of instructions for this sensor if and as soon as the time reaches a second predetermined time period.   
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  or  2 , in which the value of the first time period depends on the distance from the threshold value of the measurement having exceeded said threshold value. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , in which the threshold value is equal to 13.332.10 3  Pa (100 mm Hg) and in which the first time period is equal to thirty minutes if the measured value is lower than 15.332.10 3  Pa (115 mm Hg), the first time period is equal to fifteen minutes if the measured value ranges between 15.332.10 3  Pa (115 mm Hg) and 17.331.10 3  Pa (130 mm Hg), and in which the first time period is equal to ten minutes if the measured value is greater than 17.331.10 3  Pa (130 mm Hg). 
     
     
         5 . The device of any of  claims 1  to  4 , in which the pressure sensors are distributed under the bearing area at the intersection of the lines (L 1 , L 2 , L 3 , L 4 , L 5 , L 6 , L 7 , L 8 , L 9 , L 10 , L 11 , L 12 ) and columns (C 1 , C 2 , C 3 , C 4 , C 5 , C 6 ) of a matrix with twelve lines and twelve columns divided into two sub-matrixes with twelve lines and six columns, the interval between two successive lines of each sub-matrix being, from the rear to the front of the bearing area, 2 cm, 1.5 cm, 1.5 cm, 1 cm, 1 cm, 1 cm, 1.5 cm, 1.5 cm, 2 cm, 3 cm, and 4 cm, and the interval between two successive columns of each sub-matrix being 3.5 cm, 3 cm, 2 cm, 3 cm, and 3.5 cm. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , in which the two sub-matrixes are adjacent. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 5 , in which the two sub-matrixes are separate. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 5 , in which the interval between the two sub-matrixes is settable on the bearing area according to the seated or lying person's morphology. 
     
     
         9 . The device of any of  claims 1  to  8 , in which the tongue display unit is formed of a square matrix of thirty-six electrodes. 
     
     
         10 . The device of any of  claims 1  to  9 , in which the means for processing the measurements are capable of calculating averages of the measurements memorized for the first time period, of determining and of ordering among the obtained averages the maximum values exceeding the threshold value and of determining instructions for displacing the seated or lying person to suppress said maximum values.